Blatant honesty of a mom who suffers from depression, and all encompassing love for her family. Mix in a little 'past', lots and lots of humor and a lot of hope, and simply put, you get Simply Me.
After much deliberation, and much thought. (We are talking a years worth of thought going into this.) I have decided to mesh my photography life and my personal life into one blog.
It is such a tough decision because I have been separate for so long. (Blog wise anyway.) My home here has been this little www.kimsueellen.blogspot.com and I know that I will miss it. I may still use this blog occasionally to post reviews and other insights until I transition to the other blog fully and decide how those things will work into it, and when I get more comfortable sharing it. For now, silly enough, I feel a little exposed.
Things to look forward to in the coming months? My official dot com. It will be easier to find me, you just need to remember my name: Kim Orlandini. It will take a bit to get all of my posts carried over, but I ask for your patience as I work with my designer(s) to make this a reality.
So, if you are reading this, please come on over to my new and everlasting blog: www.kimorlandini.com and join in on the fun over there. Same great taste, fresh start.
Love you all. Thank you for your support and love to me, especially this past week. It has helped me immensely in my struggles, and I am slowly starting to see the sunshine again.
As part of our audition for SassyScoops(you may have seen our ridiculous audition videos here and here), Kimsey (Kim + Lindsey) headed to her favorite local bead shop, Beaded Puma.
Beaded Puma holds a special place in our hearts, as they helped the r house couture get well-stocked and taught us the basics of beading when r little shop was in the infant stage. They continue to offer endless support, answer questions and welcome us (and everyone!) as family when we walk in the doors.
Margo, Owner of Beaded Puma
Margo and her husband Ray are the owners of Beaded Puma which has been around in one way or another since 1993.
Margo opened Beaded Puma to help her sister (who loved beads) work through "a frumpy mood." They later learned that this "frumpy mood" was leukemia which took her life 2 years later. By then, Margo was in love with beads and stayed in the business.
We were dying to know about the name "Beaded Puma."
The name was inspired by one of Ray and Margo's treasures, this hand beaded Huichol (an Indian tribe in Mexico) puma head.
If you are looking for beads--anything from pearls to garnet to jade--at a great price with a knowledgeable and approachable staff that seriously treats you like family, then you are looking for Margo and Ray of Beaded Puma.
(Kimsey witnessed this family treatment first-hand during our review, as a widowed man approached Margo and asked if he could get a deal on two lapis beads that he wanted to purchase to make a memorial piece for his wife. Of course she said yes. Kim cried.)
Beaded Puma 1227 E 3300 S # G Salt Lake City, UT 84106-3078 (801) 466-5607
Let us give you a tour of this beloved shop.
In this video Kimsey gives a tour of Beaded Puma including their favorite parts and first impressions.
If you are serious about color and selection, you will love Beaded Puma. Just look at this variety and please, allow your heart to go pitter-patter with all the color!
Pre-World War II Vintage Glass Beads
Precious and Semo-Precious Genuine Stones
Pearls
Sterling Silver Chain
Swarovski Crystals
Turn of the Century size 22 seed and steel beads (haven't made them since 1900) from France.
Genuine Stones
Margo's Favorite (and every girl's!): Diamonds
Precious and Semi-Precious Stones
Margo is passionate about jewelry and wants to share her passion with you. She offers classes in the shop every Saturday! (80's references, shout outs to the pioneers and dry humor are thrown in by Margo for free.)
In this video, Margo shares how her passion for jewelry is rooted in being an accessory junkie! She also talks about the basic beading and stringing classes she offers in the shop every Saturday morning at 10:15am.
Here's The Scoop on The Puma:
What was your first impression?Very clean and well organized store. The set up and displays only invite you in further to experience every thing they have to offer.
What did you like the most?The bead strands. I love to run my hands through them, listen to the clinking and the tapping, it makes me want to buy all of them!
The open case in the middle of the store holds individual beads that you can manipulate and even smell! We wish the lighting was a little better over this area so you can see every sparkle that each bead boasts.
What didn’t you like?The lighting over the open case beads could be a little better, and it is devastating to travel to The Puma and not have Ray there. We love Margo, but Ray, he just can't be beat.
Would you refer a friend? Most definitely. I already have, YOU!
Best selection is right! They even have a BeDazzler!
If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?For the best selection of beads and jewelry making supplies on the Wasatch Front, it is only Beaded Puma for me: 1227 E 3300 S #G
Our favorite part of Beaded Puma allows you to get your creativity on!
In the center of the shop are the open cases where you can handle the beads. The Puma offers this snazzy little trays to their shoppers as well. They trays help you organize your design, compare colors and keep track of what you like. This area ignites your creativity. We promise. (Plus, you can run everything by Margo--she will tell you if it's ugly or not.)
Margo invites you to tap into your creativity--whether it be through beads or through smashing Coke bottles. (Isn't she a hoot?)
***Originally posted to the Shredding with Simply Me blog. If you would like access to that blog, and are interested in losing weight or sharing your weight loss stories, photos, triumphs, as well as struggles, please email me: kimsueellen[at]gmail[dot]com and I would be happy to give you access. We have room for about 25 more readers.***
Friends. I had to share some good news. When I measured in this week I finally saw some tremendous (for me) results from the last time I measured in about 3 weeks ago.
I had lost 1/2" from each thigh, 1/4" from each calf, 1/4" from each bicep. So I have lost a total of 5" from my entire body since Jan 1, 2011.
This was a huge step for me. Since my last blog post, I have not done anything different. You know the post, the one where I cry about hovering at 188.2. Well yesterday I weighed in at 186.4. This puts me at having lost 14.75 total. My highest weight was 205. I didn't start counting weight loss until I was at 200lbs. I am thinking if I want to sound incredible I should count that 5 extra pounds just to say I have lost 20lbs. *giggle*
I have also 'grown out of' two size 17 jeans (I know, I know that is a junior size) as well as almost completely not being able to wear 2 size 14 (misses size) jeans. I went to the Old Navy clearance rack yesterday and pulled off a size 12 super nervous as to whether they would fit, and guess what? They fit perfectly. Like a glove. Not a tight glove, but a nice, sweet glove. My bumm looks TOTALLY hot in them. Please comment on it's hotness the next time you see me wearing them.
I don't write this to boast, but to share with you. I have not seen any sort of change or result in my body since November. Nothing. It has been disheartening at times, and I have, of course wanted to give up. I have pushed through, and while this may be a temporary slide in the right direction, I know I am going to hit other roadblocks and long plateaus. I just need to realize that all of those things can be pushed through, and once again I will be able to see something wonderful and beautiful on the other side. Defining who I am by what I am inside is far more important that what I look like on the outside. However, it is a beautiful place to be reflecting the beauty in both areas.
I don't want to talk about 'goals' or specifically what my 'goals' are. Sometimes I feel like goals are so abstract, and intangible. I am keeping with my goal to lose 5lbs at a time. Ultimately, I would love to see the number 140 on my scale. It is a good number for my height and frame. I would love to be able to wear a size 8 jean. I would be content at these numbers. For now, I am embracing this size 12 body and I am going to love her and carry her with grace and sophistication.
xoxo
***Edited to say that with the encouragement of a few close people in my life, especially Em, I am going to run with the fact I started at 205. I am not as ashamed to admit that now as I was at the time, I have personal journal entries to prove how much of a dark place I was in. I was in complete denial, therefore pretended it wasn't real. It was. It was very very sad. Sigh. So, here we go. Down 20. Feels good. Really good. ***
It is not something I shoot because 'all the cool kids are doing it'.
Film has always been, for me, a source of magic.
It has always been a connection to something bigger than myself. Film has the ability to help us remember times gone by, and those whom we love so openly and fully, we remember them because of film. The miraculous nature by which it came about, and and of itself is magical. For me, each and every time I make an image on film, that magic comes alive for me, and I see sparkling glitter fall from the sky. Silly? Perhaps. Truthful? Certainly.
Fuji Instant Film Negative.
Shot on a Polaroid 600SE on Fuji fp3000b
When I was 15 I knew in the deepest corners of my soul that I needed to be a photographer. I don't know why, or what compelled that desire in me. Perhaps it was my grandfather. Perhaps it was his relatives who were asked to photograph Zion's National Park. Perhaps I knew at that young age that it was my destiny to capture moments that can so easily slip away. It wasn't until I was a mother, and was given the opportunity to learn, to shoot. It was on film that I learned. When the digital cameras started coming out, and were 'all the rage' I stood on the sidelines. Secretly wishing for one of those new fandangled contraptions, but still holding to my love of film. It was real, it was tangible. I was saving my pennies for a medium format film camera. That was my dream.
That year I was given a digital SLR. I loved this camera. Imagine my surprise when it was frustrating to learn to use. So different from the film I was accustomed to shooting. With time, I learned to master that digital camera although my heart still longed for film. For years I had been stalking the blog of one Jonathan Canlas. Well, I wouldn't say stalking because I left comments almost every time I went to visit his blog. It wasn't before long that I realized why I was drawn to his work. He shot film. Only film. I loved this thought. I wanted this to be me. Much to my surprise he had his first workshop in 2008. I was determined to attend that workshop. Hell or high water, I would go. And. I. Did. I wouldn't say that the workshop changed me immediately. I knew going into film that I needed to make a commitment to it. I was one of those people that had to have all or nothing. It was so deep in my soul that I knew leaving that workshop that I would one day shoot only film. Two years, almost to the day from attending that workshop, I made the switch to 100% film. I have never regretted that decision. It has forever changed me. I am lucky to call Jon one of my greatest friends. I am lucky to call him my mentor.
I get a lot of emails asking about why I shoot film, asking how they can shoot film, should they shoot film, should they just get a digital SLR. My answer to them is YES they can shoot film, and they SHOULD. Don't wait for anything. Life is short. Go and dust off that 35mm, I don't care how old it is. Grab a roll of film, load it and SHOOT it. "But isn't that hard." You ask. Well, my friends. Jon has just written a book that is about to change your life:
I have this book. I have devoured it already. It is beautiful, it is breathtaking, it is a work of art, and I am not lying when I tell you it will change your life if you let it. I don't care if you are a mom taking photos of her babies. I don't care if you are an empty nester. If you have access to a camera, please, please pick it up and shoot something on it this year.
Jon's book was released today. It is available in PDF format for immediate download and is on sale for an introductory price of $89 until February 23. I highly suggest you buy your copy before it goes to it's regular price of $149 which is still killer and worth every penny. (I spent more on one college book studying photography and didn't learn a tenth of what I have learned from Jon.)
Jon has given me the opportunity to offer this book to you. For each book that my friends and readers buy, I get a small portion of the sale, but even if I did not I would support this book, as I do now, with my entire being.
I'll send the first five people who buy it a little something special in the mail to get them started on their own film journey. Simply send me an email to: kimorlandini[at]gmail[dot]com.
Feel the love! Run on over to the Love for Jenny Auction and bid on some of the wonderful items available. You may even want to bid on a photo session with me. Bidding goes today through tomorrow night.
***Originally posted to the Shredding with Simply Me blog. If you would like access to that blog, and are interested in losing weight or sharing your weight loss stories, photos, triumphs, as well as struggles, please email me: kimsueellen[at]gmail[dot]com and I would be happy to give you access. We have room for about 30 more readers.***
I am hoping this week to finally develop some photos from the first month of my personal photography project. I'll share more details then, but wanted to check in and let you know how things are going here.
I am a few days shy of being half way through my first round of P90x. I started out super slow, listening to my body, and now I am finally at the point where I can almost keep up with the video, and get through it without feeling like I am going to die.
I wish however, that I could tell you I have seen amazing results from it. Truth is, I have not. I have lost only 3/4" from my entire body, and zero weight in pounds or ounces. I am pretty much hovering at 188.2 with the lowest number I have seen being 187, but I am not going to let it get me down. Instead I am trying to think positively, and feeling less guilty and loving myself for who I am. It is not easy, but this time, this time it is a life change, not a change of desperate attempts. This is going to be a lasting thing, and in order for that to happen, I have to be careful with me...and support me.
I can't tell you the last time I had a soda, probably some time in December. The last time I had any sort of shake was mid January. I have almost completely cut out all dairy from my diet except for some cheeses. January was a focus on returning to exercise. February has been a focus on not eating out at all, or fairly little, and really *thinking* about what is going into my body. I have been making dinner at home for me, and for my family. We are eating a more balanced diet, and controlling our portions so that we have room for each area in our food group. The kids are handling it well. I should say it is just me and the kids doing it as our dad and hubby has a freaky deaky schedule and has to fend for himself the leftovers and whatnot.
I feel I am on a good track, one that I feel is the right track. I'll keep you posted on how things go, and I am excited (well, sort of) to share a bit of my project with you hopefully in the coming weeks.
